Police speak with Crown Prosecution Service about unlawful payments to Pembrokeshire County Council chief Bryn Parry-Jones

Dyfed-Powys Police is now liaising with the Crown Prosecution Service after a report branded controversial payments to Pembrokeshire County Council chief executive Bryn Parry-Jones as unlawful.

The police had earlier said they were aware of the Wales Audit Office reports but they had not been referred to them.

But today, a spokesman for the force, added: "Dyfed-Powys Police can confirm that they are liaising with both the Crown Prosecution Service and an external force in relation to the report issued by the Wales Audit Office last week.”

The damning report published last Thursday said that allowing Bryn Parry-Jones and another senior officer to opt out of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) and receive the equivalent to the employers pension contributions in direct payments was unlawful.

The decision of the council’s Senior Staff Committee to allow the move was also unlawful because senior officers, including Mr Parry-Jones, took part in the decision making process - including the meeting when the scheme was actually approved.

Up to the end of March 2014, more than £51,000 will have been paid to Mr Parry-Jones and the other officer.

The payments made to them– so they could make their own arrangements for saving for retirement - were contrary to law, according to the Appointed Auditor, Anthony Barrett.

Share article

Throughout the report, Mr Barrett refers to the payments as “a pay supplement”.

Labour leader on the council, Paul Miller, has already called for Mr Parry-Jones to be suspended while a full investigation is carried out.

Promoted Stories

Comments (16)

Police speak with Crown Prosecution Service about unlawful payments to Pembrokeshire County Council chief Bryn Parry-Jones

Electra1 says...3:04pm Mon 3 Feb 14

Good, let us hope that something positive comes from it.

Good, let us hope that something positive comes from it.Electra1

Good, let us hope that something positive comes from it.

Score: 15

ladybench says...3:24pm Mon 3 Feb 14

If its unlawful then heads should roll.I have a feeling that this is going nowhere.Lets see what side justice is on.

If its unlawful then heads should roll.I have a feeling that this is going nowhere.Lets see what side justice is on.ladybench

If its unlawful then heads should roll.I have a feeling that this is going nowhere.Lets see what side justice is on.

Score: 14

garethjones123 says...4:11pm Mon 3 Feb 14

Lets hope justice will be done and the issue is not swept under the carpet...... A thorough investigation needs to take place and heads should roll for those who are guilty....

Lets hope justice will be done and the issue is not swept under the carpet...... A thorough investigation needs to take place and heads should roll for those who are guilty....garethjones123

Lets hope justice will be done and the issue is not swept under the carpet...... A thorough investigation needs to take place and heads should roll for those who are guilty....

Score: 14

teifion says...4:44pm Mon 3 Feb 14

Either the councillors or the senior managers who made this decision in an "open meeting" in BPJs office should be made to pay back this money back. Of course none of the ppl involved should be allowed to resign so that they can spend more time with their families - they should be pursued with the FULL vigour of the Law

Either the councillors or the senior managers who made this decision in an "open meeting" in BPJs office should be made to pay back this money back.
Of course none of the ppl involved should be allowed to resign so that they can spend more time with their families - they should be pursued with the FULL vigour of the Lawteifion

Either the councillors or the senior managers who made this decision in an "open meeting" in BPJs office should be made to pay back this money back. Of course none of the ppl involved should be allowed to resign so that they can spend more time with their families - they should be pursued with the FULL vigour of the Law

Score: 13

hardcheese says...4:52pm Mon 3 Feb 14

Pembrokeshire County Council chief Bryn Parry-Jones earns more than David Cameron, time for him to go !!!!

Pembrokeshire County Council chief Bryn Parry-Jones earns more than David Cameron, time for him to go !!!!hardcheese

Pembrokeshire County Council chief Bryn Parry-Jones earns more than David Cameron, time for him to go !!!!

Score: 9

Welshman23 says...4:53pm Mon 3 Feb 14

I hope that. resignations are not accepted and if found guilty lose their pension benefits, let's hope the inland revenue get involved and investigate the tax of the two benefactors. No pay offs , or behind the scenes deals. The leader of the council should consider his position and all the people that made this illegal decision.

I hope that. resignations are not accepted and if found guilty lose their pension benefits, let's hope the inland revenue get involved and investigate the tax of the two benefactors. No pay offs , or behind the scenes deals. The leader of the council should consider his position and all the people that made this illegal decision.Welshman23

I hope that. resignations are not accepted and if found guilty lose their pension benefits, let's hope the inland revenue get involved and investigate the tax of the two benefactors. No pay offs , or behind the scenes deals. The leader of the council should consider his position and all the people that made this illegal decision.

Score: 18

Indeview J Hudson says...5:56pm Mon 3 Feb 14

What about the other senior officers involved in the original report - insufficient, misleading and incorrect information, not forgetting the apparent persuasive unrecorded advice given by the former council leader.to the committee. Subsequent costs incurred "defending" the original decision, Who made that decision and on what basis? What about the statutory duties of specific officers to report unlawful payments to Council? We still have to see the advice from government on how to avoid the penalty effect of its pension legislation.as claimed by cabinet members.

What about the other senior officers involved in the original report - insufficient, misleading and incorrect information, not forgetting the apparent persuasive unrecorded advice given by the former council leader.to the committee.
Subsequent costs incurred "defending" the original decision, Who made that decision and on what basis?
What about the statutory duties of specific officers to report unlawful payments to Council?
We still have to see the advice from government on how to avoid the penalty effect of its pension legislation.as claimed by cabinet members.Indeview J Hudson

What about the other senior officers involved in the original report - insufficient, misleading and incorrect information, not forgetting the apparent persuasive unrecorded advice given by the former council leader.to the committee. Subsequent costs incurred "defending" the original decision, Who made that decision and on what basis? What about the statutory duties of specific officers to report unlawful payments to Council? We still have to see the advice from government on how to avoid the penalty effect of its pension legislation.as claimed by cabinet members.

Score: 7

Welshman23 says...8:52pm Mon 3 Feb 14

This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.

This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.Welshman23

This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.

Score: 8

quentin says...9:58pm Mon 3 Feb 14

At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.

At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.quentin

At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.

Score: 8

malcolm calver says...7:46am Tue 4 Feb 14

Please could someone refresh my memory into the events leading up the decision on the pension contributions and perhaps inform everyone of the names of those involved in the decision to accept this deal as being legal. I seem to recollect that Cllr John Davies, who was the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council at the time of the original meeting, held to discuss this proposal, advised the committee that he had some experience of this sort of thing. I believe this was the same person who made some initial steps to stand to become the Police Commissioner for Dyfed I cannot believe that the County Councillors that attended meetings to discuss such a proposal did not have the intelligence to work out that anyone benefiting from the proposal should not be sitting in at the table.

Please could someone refresh my memory into the events leading up the decision on the pension contributions and perhaps inform everyone of the names of those involved in the decision to accept this deal as being legal.
I seem to recollect that Cllr John Davies, who was the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council at the time of the original meeting, held to discuss this proposal, advised the committee that he had some experience of this sort of thing. I believe this was the same person who made some initial steps to stand to become the Police Commissioner for Dyfed
I cannot believe that the County Councillors that attended meetings to discuss such a proposal did not have the intelligence to work out that anyone benefiting from the proposal should not be sitting in at the table.malcolm calver

Please could someone refresh my memory into the events leading up the decision on the pension contributions and perhaps inform everyone of the names of those involved in the decision to accept this deal as being legal. I seem to recollect that Cllr John Davies, who was the Leader of Pembrokeshire County Council at the time of the original meeting, held to discuss this proposal, advised the committee that he had some experience of this sort of thing. I believe this was the same person who made some initial steps to stand to become the Police Commissioner for Dyfed I cannot believe that the County Councillors that attended meetings to discuss such a proposal did not have the intelligence to work out that anyone benefiting from the proposal should not be sitting in at the table.

Score: 7

Indeview J Hudson says...8:42am Tue 4 Feb 14

Malcolm, I think you expect too much from PCC councillors. What lay person would expect that senior highly paid professional officers would not give them all appropriate advice in written reports, supplemented by full minutes of meetings at which further advice information was presented, so that the rest of us could see the reasons for decisions? This was, however, a finding in first Judicial review into care home fees, that was not picked up and acted upon by a complacent arrogant corporate management, fully supported, unquestioned by Cabinet. .Only recently, in the Pembroke Dock Grant investigation, has the legal advice given by officers been forced to change their advice on non- disclosure and recognise that all councillors not only have the right to see all documents, but also make copies. I would find it hard to accept any advice given at face value. As for Cabinet members being briefed by these officers to give public statements, we have seen where this left Councillor Pugh. There is also the matter of Cabinet Member utterances to the effect that Government advice was available guiding arrangements to get around its Pension Legislation. We await this evidence. Are we expected to believe any statements from this Council? How is it possible to bring this council into any further disrepute?

Malcolm, I think you expect too much from PCC councillors.
What lay person would expect that senior highly paid professional officers would not give them all appropriate advice in written reports, supplemented by full minutes of meetings at which further advice information was presented, so that the rest of us could see the reasons for decisions?
This was, however, a finding in first Judicial review into care home fees, that was not picked up and acted upon by a complacent arrogant corporate management, fully supported, unquestioned by Cabinet.
.Only recently, in the Pembroke Dock Grant investigation, has the legal advice given by officers been forced to change their advice on non- disclosure and recognise that all councillors not only have the right to see all documents, but also make copies.
I would find it hard to accept any advice given at face value.
As for Cabinet members being briefed by these officers to give public statements, we have seen where this left Councillor Pugh. There is also the matter of Cabinet Member utterances to the effect that Government advice was available guiding arrangements to get around its Pension Legislation. We await this evidence.
Are we expected to believe any statements from this Council?
How is it possible to bring this council into any further disrepute?Indeview J Hudson

Malcolm, I think you expect too much from PCC councillors. What lay person would expect that senior highly paid professional officers would not give them all appropriate advice in written reports, supplemented by full minutes of meetings at which further advice information was presented, so that the rest of us could see the reasons for decisions? This was, however, a finding in first Judicial review into care home fees, that was not picked up and acted upon by a complacent arrogant corporate management, fully supported, unquestioned by Cabinet. .Only recently, in the Pembroke Dock Grant investigation, has the legal advice given by officers been forced to change their advice on non- disclosure and recognise that all councillors not only have the right to see all documents, but also make copies. I would find it hard to accept any advice given at face value. As for Cabinet members being briefed by these officers to give public statements, we have seen where this left Councillor Pugh. There is also the matter of Cabinet Member utterances to the effect that Government advice was available guiding arrangements to get around its Pension Legislation. We await this evidence. Are we expected to believe any statements from this Council? How is it possible to bring this council into any further disrepute?

Score: 12

teifion says...9:08am Tue 4 Feb 14

Welshman23 wrote…

This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.

I've always said it's when the poor s0ds at the bottom of the Pembs CC pay scale are not in work for some reason, THEY are the ones the tax payers will miss when they're not there not the likes of BPJ !

[quote][p][bold]Welshman23[/bold] wrote:
This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.[/p][/quote]I've always said it's when the poor s0ds at the bottom of the Pembs CC pay scale are not in work for some reason, THEY are the ones the tax payers will miss when they're not there not the likes of BPJ !teifion

Welshman23 wrote…

This story has hit the News of Wales website, if the CPS takes action will the two benefactors be suspended on full pay pending an investigation. Full pay for no work.

I've always said it's when the poor s0ds at the bottom of the Pembs CC pay scale are not in work for some reason, THEY are the ones the tax payers will miss when they're not there not the likes of BPJ !

Score: 10

teifion says...9:11am Tue 4 Feb 14

quentin wrote…

At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.

just voted this comment up. How on earth could ANYONE vote down the idea that this council operate decently, legal and free from corruption ? Actually someone who benefits from the reverse?

[quote][p][bold]quentin[/bold] wrote:
At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.[/p][/quote]just voted this comment up. How on earth could ANYONE vote down the idea that this council operate decently, legal and free from corruption ?
Actually someone who benefits from the reverse?teifion

quentin wrote…

At least the police are now involved. Lets see how far this inquiry gets now. Another cover up possibly.

just voted this comment up. How on earth could ANYONE vote down the idea that this council operate decently, legal and free from corruption ? Actually someone who benefits from the reverse?

Score: 9

Neyland Boy says...10:53am Tue 4 Feb 14

Pigs caught with their snouts in the trough. They treat public money as a personal slush fund and award themselves inflation busting pay rises while the people who do the real work get little or nothing. They have no shame and have the audacity to say that they act in the best interests of the people of Pembrokeshire.

Pigs caught with their snouts in the trough.
They treat public money as a personal slush fund and award themselves inflation busting pay rises while the people who do the real work get little or nothing.
They have no shame and have the audacity to say that they act in the best interests of the people of Pembrokeshire.Neyland Boy

Pigs caught with their snouts in the trough. They treat public money as a personal slush fund and award themselves inflation busting pay rises while the people who do the real work get little or nothing. They have no shame and have the audacity to say that they act in the best interests of the people of Pembrokeshire.

Score: 11

Whitlandman says...1:40pm Tue 4 Feb 14

If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council. As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies. The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor. Whitlandman

If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council.
As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies.
The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor.
WhitlandmanWhitlandman

If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council. As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies. The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor. Whitlandman

Score: 5

teifion says...11:33am Wed 5 Feb 14

Whitlandman wrote…

If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council. As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies. The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor. Whitlandman

Shirley Porter a council leader in London and other councillors were forced to pay back money lost due to their incomptence - their actions as I recall were not even ultra vaires(is that the term used) just incompetent - some went bankrupt, I REALLY hope the Senedd will use the FULL force of their powers to get the money back (same goes for Carmarthenshire County Council)

[quote][p][bold]Whitlandman[/bold] wrote:
If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council.
As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies.
The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor.
Whitlandman[/p][/quote]Shirley Porter a council leader in London and other councillors were forced to pay back money lost due to their incomptence - their actions as I recall were not even ultra vaires(is that the term used) just incompetent - some went bankrupt, I REALLY hope the Senedd will use the FULL force of their powers to get the money back (same goes for Carmarthenshire County Council)teifion

Whitlandman wrote…

If the Payment to BPJ cannot be recovered from him or he does not repay the moneys voluntarily, then should not the Councillors who made the decision having been found to acted unlawfully by the Auditor in authorising the Payment be required to repay the money back to the Council. As I recall the Clay Cross Councillors from Derbyshire were required to repay moneys over decisions found to be unlawful over fair rents in the early seventies. The Council and more importantly taxpayers should not be out of pocket because of the Councillors actions found to be unlawful by the Auditor. Whitlandman

Shirley Porter a council leader in London and other councillors were forced to pay back money lost due to their incomptence - their actions as I recall were not even ultra vaires(is that the term used) just incompetent - some went bankrupt, I REALLY hope the Senedd will use the FULL force of their powers to get the money back (same goes for Carmarthenshire County Council)

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standardards Organisations's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a compaint about editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here